St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-20
A NIGHT WITH MCCULLOUGH.
Story of Detective Employed to
| Watch Over Him in His Latter

Story of a Detective Employed to
Watch Over Him in His Latter
Days.
lone of the most peculiar experiences
L ever had in my life" said veteran de-
tectiye the other day as he turned the
key in the ''sweat-box" and locked in
some poor criminal, twas the night L
passed with John Mccullough at the
Chicago club in 1884. During the day
the poor tragedian began to show signs
OF insanity, and Joseph Brooks, his man
ager, feared that he would commit sui
eide. In the evening his friends induced
him to go to the Chicago club, where
they hoped to keep him amused until
ne went to sleep or became more ra-
tional. Brooks sent over to our office
for man to watch him, and / was de-
tailed for the service. My instructions
were to keep him in the club house, if
possible, but to use no violence unless
ne attempted to do himself some injury.
/! didn't much like the undertaking, as
McCullOugh was an exceedingly pow
efful man, and | knew that his insanity
would give him more than his usual
strength.
"When 1 reached the club house
Mccullough was lying on a sofa, appar-
emily asleep, and by his side was heavy
black-thorn stick. AT a table playing
cards were two members of his COM
pany, who were there for the same pur-
pose as myself. AS everything seemed
to be quiet l sat down in chair and
soon went off in dose. Suddenly saw
Mccullough get up from the sofa,
and, with his cane in hand, walk
over to the table where the
card-players were seated. AS he ap-
preached the table he raised the stick
and brought it down with terrific force
upon the head of the man nearest him.
The man dropped to the floor like log,
but before Mccullough could do any
more damage with the stick we had him
pinned to the floor. / knew that he was
a strong man, but had no idea how great
his strength was until then. For nearly
half an hour we wreStled and
struggled with him, until all
three of us were completely
blown. AT last he gave up and seemed
to become more rational. This took
place about O'Clock in the morning,
and as there was no one else within
hearing we had to leave the injured man
on the floor until we could conquer Nc
Cullough. When we picked the fellow
up he was unconscious, and his hair and
face were covered with blood which
came from large scalp wound given
by the cane. We at once sent
for Brooks, and as it was deSira-
BILE that the affair should be kept quiet,
he took him to the county hospital in a
carriage, where it was at first thought
that his skull had been fractured. Luck
lily, however, this was not the case, and,
although obliged to remain in the hos
pital nearly a month, he has suffered no
i'll effects since.
in the meantime Mccullough became
perfectly rational, and asked me my
name and what was doing. told him
that was steward of the club, but was
DESTROYS of becoming an actor. We
talked pleasantly for a few moments,
when suddenly Mccullough sprang to
his feet and began to spout lines from
'FIrgln1uS' and other of his plays,
Can you use a broadSWord? said he.
suddenly.
ITO humor him, l replied that I
could, when he at once called upon ME
to produce the weapons. There were
couple of small canes in the room, and
gave him one of these, taking the
other myself. He thought that he
really had a sword in his hand, and
made lunge atme. / parted the blow
I've seen considerable service in the
cavalry we went at it hot and
heavy. Mccullough soon became ex-
hausted, however. and again
became rational. Well, to make
a long story short, we passed
the night in that way, alternately
fencing and talking. Occasionally Nc
would call for Kate Forsyth,
and at such times, even in the midst of
a violent defamation, his voice would
lou nd Il
come to his eyes. I never felt such pity
for man in my life, but, just the same,
| was mighty glad when was relieved
In the mOrning',